AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it will advance ABT-494, its internally developed investigational selective JAK1 inhibitor, to Phase 3 studies in rheumatoid arthritis. Following a thorough review of available data, AbbVie will not exercise its right to in-license the Galapagos JAK1 inhibitor, filgotinib.
"We believe ABT-494 has the potential to become a best-in-class therapy for patients," said Michael Severino, M.D., executive vice president, research and development and chief scientific officer, AbbVie. "In our view, ABT-494 also offers a faster path to Phase 3 development with less uncertainty."
Per the terms of the agreement with Galapagos, all rights to filgotinib will revert solely to Galapagos.